Do certain events make college students more likely to leave their school?
A study at Michigan State University recently sought to answer that question by surveying more than 1,000 students over the course of an academic year.
In the study, six different events significantly increased students’ likelihood to withdraw. One of the top reasons was acceptance to another college or a job offer prior to graduation. While this mainly indicates that the student had found a preferred gig, it also implies some dissatisfaction with the student’s current school.
The other five reasons are unambiguously negative events. In order of significance, they are the following:
- Became clinically depressed
- Lost financial aid
- Had roommate conflicts
- Received an unexpected bad grade
- Faced a large increase in tuition/living costs
It’s notable that two of the five—financial aid and tuition—are economic. This is in line with the findings of a recent study by the Higher Education Research Institute. Specifically, current college students are very concerned with money issues.
In the case of roommate conflicts or an unexpected bad grade, additional support from the school can help to alleviate many of these situations. Hopefully these findings inspire schools to offer more resource for students in either situation.
Many schools have recently increased their resources for students with depression or other mental-health issues. The New York Times blog The Choice provides some questions to ask as you research the mental health services offered at the colleges on your list.
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